Tusker go down fighting against Singida in Nairobi

Tusker FC must overcome a slender deficit in Tanzania on Sunday if they are to keep their CAF Confederation Cup campaign alive, after a costly second-half lapse handed Singida Black Stars a 1–0 victory in the first leg of their second preliminary-round tie at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium.

The Kenyan side now face a stern test at Dar es Salaam’s Uhuru Stadium, where they must find a way past their Tanzanian opponents to secure progression to the next round. With no room for another slip, the Brewers will need greater attacking precision and defensive discipline to overturn the deficit.

The decisive moment came in the second half when substitute Jeancy Mboma Kinda struck for Singida, punishing Tusker’s failure to contain the visitors down the right flank. After beating right-back Eugene Ikutwa, the Tanzanian attacker unleashed a left-footed effort into the top-left corner, leaving the goalkeeper with little chance of making a save.

Tusker had made a promising start, with Ian Simiyu testing goalkeeper Yona Amos in the fourth minute, but the hosts struggled to convert their opportunities into goals. Singida gradually grew into the contest, with Jonathan Sowah firing wide from distance in the 27th minute before Hussein Bakari squandered a one-on-one opportunity against Amos three minutes later.

The sides went into the break goalless, but Singida emerged with greater purpose and eventually broke the deadlock in the second half. Tusker sought an immediate response, with Simiyu threatening from a corner, only for the visitors’ goalkeeper to deal with the delivery.

Head coach Julien Mette attempted to change the course of the match through a series of substitutions, introducing Stephen Etyang for Abdoulie Joof in the 64th minute before making further changes as Tusker searched for an equaliser.

The Brewers intensified their pressure in the closing stages, earning two free-kicks just outside the penalty area. Captain Aboud Omar took both, but his first effort sailed over the crossbar, while the second narrowly missed the far-left post. In stoppage time, Simiyu’s curling attempt was deflected behind for a corner, summing up a frustrating afternoon for the hosts.

Mette had made three changes to the side that started Tusker’s FKF Premier League season opener against Ulinzi Stars, bringing in Aboud Omar, Crisphine Erambo and Joof for Francis Otieno, Stephen Omondi and Aboubacar Doumbia. The adjustments, however, failed to produce the desired result against a disciplined Singida side.

Tusker had entered the continental encounter in encouraging form after opening their domestic campaign with a 2–0 victory over Ulinzi Stars.

New signings Alvin Mangeni and Victor Mbaoma scored in that match, raising hopes that the Brewers could carry their momentum into Africa.

They had also progressed from the first preliminary round with a 3–2 aggregate victory over Sudan’s Al Ahli Wad Madani, drawing 2–2 away before winning the return leg 1–0 at Nyayo, thanks to Erambo’s decisive goal.

Singida, meanwhile, arrived with an impressive record from their opening-round tie, having overwhelmed South Sudan’s El Ghazira 10–1 on aggregate.

They won the away leg 7–1 before completing the rout with a 3–0 home victory. Former Shabana player Mathew Tegisi, who scored a hat-trick in the opening leg, featured in the Tanzanian side’s starting line-up before being substituted towards the end of the first half.

The visitors also bring valuable continental experience into the return fixture. Singida reached the CAF Confederation Cup group stage for the first time in the 2025–26 season, finishing third in Group C with five points from six matches against Algeria’s CR Belouizdad, South Africa’s Stellenbosch FC and Congo’s AS Otohô.

The return leg at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam will determine which side advances in the competition.